WESTERN H I N D O O S T A N. 43 



bounded to the eaft by mount Imaus, bounded on the weft and 

 fouth by the chain of the Panjab hills. There is another 

 plain fimilar, from the upper part of the Setlege as far as the 

 Ganges^ where it flows through the province of Sirinagur. 



I NOW afcend, from its union with the Cbimaub, the Behuty The BEHyr. 

 the moft celebrated of the five rivers, the Fabulofus Hydafpes^ 

 which flows in two magnificent meanders, and ifluing from a 

 narrow gap between exalted mountains, from its origin in the 

 romantic Ca/Jjmere\ partly along a plain, partly at the foot of 

 mountains cloathed with forefts of trees of >fize magnificent, 

 many of which are periihing continually through weight of 

 years, and others fucceeding them in the full verdure and 

 vigor of youth. Would my pen could be infpired like that of 

 M. Bernier, who in 1664 attended in quality of a phyfician, and 

 philofophic friend, to a great Omrah of that time, a follower 

 of Atirengezebe in his fplendid progrefs to Cajhmere for the 

 recovery of his health, by a change of the burning clime of 

 H'mdoojlan^ for the falubrious air of the former. I leave to the 

 reader the perufal of Bernier^ the nrft traveller, I may fay, 

 of his, or any other age. I fliall in a very abridged form 

 take up the account from the departure of the court from 

 Agra. His fuite was an army. He was alfo attended by his 

 fifter, which gave fplendor unfpeakable to the train of ladies. 

 He left Agra in the moment pronounced fortunate by the im- 

 perial altroiogers. To this day nothing is done without their 

 aufpices. He took the road to Lahore^ hunting or hawking on 

 each fide as occafion offered. Among the nobler game, a lion 

 prefented itfelf. In crolling the rivers bridges of boats were 

 ufed for the purpofe. The heats on the march were dreadful, 



G 2 caufed 



